[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 17 (Wednesday, February 16, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S1503]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO WALLACE RUSTAD

  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a member of 
my staff who will be retiring from his position in the U.S. Senate. 
Wally Rustad is a man who is recognized by his colleagues and myself as 
an extremely dedicated, hard-working, and joyful public servant.
  Mr. Rustad has had a remarkable career in public service, spanning 
close to half a century. He joined the Army in 1955, where he served in 
Germany until 1958 and in the Reserves until 1961. Following that, he 
taught high school history and literature in Williston, ND. In 1965, he 
pursued his interest in politics with a move to Washington, D.C. to 
become a legislative assistant for the Honorable Rolland Redlin in the 
U.S. House of Representatives. After 2 years, he returned to North 
Dakota to work for Basin Electric Cooperative. But in 1970, he was 
drawn back to Washington, D.C. to work for Congressman Arthur Link in 
the U.S. House of Representatives as chief of staff and senior 
spokesperson.
  With experience gained from his time on Capitol Hill, Mr. Rustad went 
on to a position with the National Rural Electric Cooperative 
Association, where he soon became the director of Government Relations. 
His work at the NRECA was recognized and praised by many. Under his 
direction, the NRECA saw the strength of its political influence grow 
substantially, prompting the Wall Street Journal to call the co-op 
lobby the second most powerful in Washington. He spent his years on the 
political front lines defending against attacks on the rural electric 
program. On February 17, 2004, Wally was presented with the prestigious 
Clyde T. Ellis Award, which honors an individual for contributions 
clearly above the routine call of duty in furthering the principles and 
progress of rural electrification and the development and utilization 
of national resources.
  For the past 5\1/2\ years, I have been honored to have Wally serve on 
my staff. He brought with him his extensive experience in the energy 
industry and rural economic development and a tremendous dedication to 
our home State of North Dakota. During his tenure in my office, he has 
worked on economic development issues for North Dakota and in outreach 
to numerous individuals and groups throughout the State. As my State 
liaison, he has built strong rapport and stayed in close contact with 
constituents, responding to needs and monitoring priority issues to 
make sure that the views of North Dakotans are represented in 
Washington.
  A native of Grenora, ND, population 261, Wally is a tremendous 
advocate for our home State. He and his family still own a farm near 
Grenora. Last summer, Wally and his wife, Marlys, organized a trip for 
a group of 38 of their friends to tour the State. They visited the 
Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and trails along the Missouri River, 
toured the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, attended the musical and 
pitch fork fondue in Medora, and did a lot of golfing. His tour group 
was awed by the history and beauty of the State and, of course, its 
golf courses. As Wally put it, it was ``one small thing'' he could do 
to help promote economic development and tourism in North Dakota.
  Wally and his wife of 43 years, Marlys Rustad nee Jacobson, live in 
Leesburg, VA. Their daughter Kimberly and her husband, Clark Kelly, and 
their children, Avery, Kate and William, live in Mobile, AL. Their 
daughter Jill and her husband Jonathan Adler, and their children, 
Julia, Jami and Jessica, live in Leesburg, VA. Jon, their son, lives in 
Los Angeles, CA.
  Wally is a man with great dedication to public service. He arrives at 
work each day shortly after 6 a.m., after commuting for 2 hours, and 
brews the first pot of coffee. He greets his colleagues with a smile on 
his face and the news of the day as they arrive into work. As the late 
North Dakota Senator Quentin Burdick once said, ``Wally Rustad is a 
small-town North Dakotan who has made it big in Washington. He has a 
genuine commitment to serving the people of rural America.''
  As Wally goes forward in his life, I hope that he proudly looks back 
from time to time and knows what a difference he has made in the lives 
of so many people. He is a good friend and a wonderful American whom I 
am honored to have had the pleasure to work with. I commend him for his 
accomplishments and outstanding service and wish him well.

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